Rose McGowan decries Meryl Streep and other actresses protesting sexual harassment
Actress Rose McGowan has criticised Meryl Streep and other stars who are rumoured to be wearing black to next month's Golden Globes ceremony, in protest of the wave of sexual harassment allegations currently engulfing Hollywood.
McGowan, one of the figureheads leading the charge against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, whom she has accused of rape, tweeted that the protest is an act of hypocrisy, writing: "Actresses, like Meryl Streep, who happily worked for The Pig Monster [Weinstein], are wearing black at the Golden Globes in a silent protest.
"Your silence is the problem," she continued. "You'll accept a fake award breathlessly and affect no real change. I despise your hypocrisy." She added, "Maybe you should all wear Marchesa," taking a jab at the fashion house of Georgina Chapman, the separated wife of Weinstein.
McGowan has since deleted her tweet, but has retweeted several messages decrying the "hypocrisy" of the protest. She has also retweeted messages of support after actress Amber Tamblyn criticised her stance, Tamblyn writing: "I do not support any woman (or man) shaming or taunting the movements of other women who are trying to create change. Telling us to all wear Marchesa? This is beneath you, Rose."
Streep, like many high-powered actors in Hollywood, worked on several films produced by Weinstein, and said in a statement in October that "the intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes," while clarifying that she was not previously aware of "financial settlements" or "other inappropriate, coercive acts" the mogul has been accused of.
She added, "The behaviour is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar. Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game."
Streep is the second high-profile actress to be criticised by McGowan in the past week, after she condemned her former Charmed costar Alyssa Milano, one of the leading figures in the #MeToo movement. After Milano came out in support of her long-time friend Chapman in an interview, McGowan tweeted her anger.
Milano said that Chapman is "going through very dark times," adding: "I have no doubt that not only will she come out on the other side of this, but she deserves to. She's a good woman."
McGowan tweeted in response: "You make me want to vomit. You actually gave me a body flashback. Well done, fake one," along with: "Alyssa, maybe you and Georgina can call up Camille Cosby," referencing the wife of Bill Cosby, who has repeatedly defended her husband despite the numerous accusations of sexual misconduct.
Chapman announced her intention to divorce Weinstein a week after the New York Times and the New Yorker published stories alleging Weinstein's predations.